152 FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 



satisfied that we have seen at least two pairs. The differen- 

 tiation is to be found in Hellmayr Orn. Jahrb XI. p. 212 (19) /O) 

 a not very accessible book, written in a language not generally 

 cultivated just now. 



Dr. Penrose, however, writes to us as follows : 



12th May, 1915. I went to the Natural History Museum 

 and had out the series Parus palustris dresseri to compare 

 with P.b. kleinschmidti and made the following notes. 



P.p. dresseri (The English Marsh Tit) . 



The feathers of the blackcap on the crown of the head are 

 crisp and short, which gives a definite bright, satiny 

 appearance. The end of the tail is almost square. 



P.b. kleinschmidti (The English Willow Tit). 



The feathers of the head are longer and looser, and give a 

 much less glossy a more velvety appearance. The end of 

 the tail is distinctly graduated. There is a reference to the 

 distinctions mentioned above in " British Birds " Vol. I., p. 44, 

 by W. Rothschild. 



Dr. Penrose illustrated his letter by sketches shewing that 

 the tail of P. b. kleinschmitdi was, when spread, very decidedly 

 excurved in contour at the extremity and very decidedly 

 crenulate. 



We came to the conclusion after watching one pair for an 

 hour or two and comparing them with P.p. dresseri in the 

 neighbourhood that the latter had the appearance of having its 

 " hair " nice and tidy whilst the former had " towzled hair." 



4th April. At Canford we observed a pair busily boring a 

 hole out in a rotten oak limb. 



1st May. One of a pair at Canford that had selected and 

 partially hollowed out a decayed holly stump was scrutinized 

 by Dr. Penrose and pronounced by him to be P.b. kleins- 

 chmitdi. This pair laid 4 eggs and then for no apparent 

 reason disappeared, possibly they came to an untimely end. 

 (W.P.C. and E.H.C.). 

 Aegithalus caudatus roseus (The British Long -tailed Titmouse). 



4th April. A nest partly lined with feathers at Canford. 

 (W.P.C.). 



